"Vector there is absolutely no way in hell that I'm doing this." Espio jumped out of his seat, as he immediately began a fast pace towards the nearest exit, the much taller crocodile on his heels.

"Oh yes you are! We ain't gonna make it in this vain day and age if we ain't got a good lookin' mascot with tons a' edge and crap! And Charmy and I sure as hell don't make the cut!" He grabbed at the chameleon's arm, which Espio quickly dodged before swiveling around to fix the larger man with a death glare.

"Don't touch me."

Vector laughed nervously under the intensity of his stare before shifting back a couple of steps. "Right..sorry. But see, ya already have the intense stare down! This could work if ya just give it time. Give me one good reason why we shouldn't even try!"

"Vector I could give you a thousand reasons why we shouldn't try this but the first and most important reason is that it is the single stupidest plan you've ever had. And that's saying a lot considering how many times we've all been humiliated by your "brilliant" ideas in the past." Espio rested his hands on his hips, a sure sign that he wasn't going to budge even the slightest on his decision. "If you want to follow through on this little game then fine, go for it. But don't expect help from me."

He turned and left swiftly, Vector only pausing to tell Charmy to stay inside before following after his friend and soon to be business partner. That is if Vector managed to get his way, which he usually did...

The soothing air of a mid afternoon day in May was all that Espio needed to shake the huge discomfort he had faced that morning. However much Vector begged and pleaded, he was adamant that he wouldn't become some foolish dress up doll to please the female population. Years of training in the ninjitsu arts were certainly not so he could be manufactured into a male model, they were for his own personal strength, his internal courageousness, his sworn oath to face the life of darkness alone and without opposition, as every true ninja must...

While Espio was deep in his own internal monologue, Vector was heading up the trail to the apple tree he knew the chameleon would be sitting under. While he may think he was a very mysterious and interesting male, Espio was actually quite predictable once one got to know him as closely as Vector and Charmy did. Which was why Vector was sure he could convince his friend to get involved.

After approaching the tree and sitting at a comfortable distance to allow Espio his respectable space, he calmly cleared his throat. "Please just let me explain my reasons, 'kay? An' then ya can decide whatever ya want ta do."

There was a pause before one light amber eye opened slightly to acknowledge him, obviously still harboring a grudge from earlier.

Vector sighed. Damn this guy is cold. "Espio, we are in some serious trouble here. I know we've butted heads in the past...a lot...but I know dis place means a lot ta ya too! Ya can't just act like ya won't care if we're suddenly homeless."

"And what exactly makes you think that making me some...bad boy...is going to suddenly cure our problems?" His voice was even colder than his attitude and Vector found himself flinching against his will. "If I follow through with helping you, and you sell me out to be this edgy "bad boy", who's to say that we'll get any clients? The more likely result is that we'll scare away whatever potential clients that were already going to show up."

"What potential clients Espio? 'Cause I ain't seen any in a long time!" Vector sighed, thoroughly frustrated as he sprawled back on the grass, his size causing Espio to have to shift to avoid being smacked with the large Mobian's tail. "You wanna know what I think?"
"...I'm sure you'll tell me anyways-"

"I think this is it. This is the last brilliant idea, last gimmick, last attempt at saving everything I ever wanted. This place, this broken down crap shute...I love her Esp. An' I don't know what we're gonna do if we lose 'er." Vector looked up at the puffy clouds as they drifted by lazily, one large gloved hand going up to shade the sun from his eyes. "I think this last idea is a long shot too. An' maybe it's just a stubborn ol' croc's way of tryin' ta not let go. All I ask is ya stand by me, one last time?" Vector adjusted his facial features into what had to be the most broken and desperate expression imaginable, looking to his silent friend.

Espio studied him quietly, masking his thoughts as he leaned back against the bark of the old apple tree and contemplated to himself quietly. He wasn't sold, not even close, but he could at least give his boss the benefit of appearing to take his sob story into consideration.

"Of course you would also get the chance ta show off yer fancy ninja skills to everyone in town, an' if it worked we would have the money ta buy that new shamisen ya saw at the music shop last week...but those would just be added bonuses."

Espio glanced at Vector with a stern expression, finally tricked into giving his full attention. "Ninjitsu is not some side show performance, and you can't just bribe me with material objects Vector. Do you know what this whole mess would even entail? Even if I did agree to this, I'm not a very... social person. There's no way I could woo the adolescent minds of teenagers into thinking I'm some dark and brooding hero that can solve their cases!"

"That's what rehearsals are for! An' trust me Espio, with the system I have planned out you'll become the ideal mascot for the Chaotix. You'll save us from becomin' homeless!" Vector sat up, looking to his uncertain friend. "Think of Charmy, how much this'll mean ta him. You'll be his hero, he'll want to be just like ya when he grows up! An' think of what this could mean for our business. I know ya love this place too Es, or ya woulda left a long time ago. And don't look at me like that, I saw the suitcases." He cut off the chameleon before he could protest. "You were gonna walk out last winter, remember? That January when we hadn't had work in four months and we were near starved ta death. I woke up one morning and saw yer bags sittin' in the hall. I was sure ya would leave but by noon they were gone and you stayed. Why?"

Espio shifted under the croc's piercing gaze, looking out towards their rickety old home, tattered and well worn with love. "...I..."

"Please? One last try, for old time's sake?" Vector held out a hand to him, eyes alight with determination that outmatched all of the doubt that still set off alarms in Espio's head. With a deep sigh that seemed to come from the very depths of his being, he took the much bigger hand and shook it softly.

"But no makeup. I still have nightmares from Charmy's last birthday party."

Vector grinned broadly. "No makeup. I swear."

Walking back to the agency, Espio opted to trail behind a bit in order to process what he was getting himself into. Surely this was the most idiotic idea in the world, he was going to humiliate himself! And that was something that he could never live with. The very thought of crowds of people laughing at him made the poor ninja want to disappear. However something in Vector's long winded speech had struck a cord within him, a distant memory he had tried to suppress. Those damn suitcases...

When did this place suddenly become my home? Was there a pinpointed time when it just happened, that something inside me decided to stay forever?

Whatever the case, he knew that if this was his home for the long run then it would have to be worth enduring whatever degrading scheme Vector had planned for him. Running his hand against the worn wood of the door frame, Espio took in one last sigh before stepping inside to greet whatever hell he was sure to face.

I definitely feel like this chapter lacked a lot of the funnies, sorry about that. However I think it's important to get all real and deep sometimes too, don'tcha agree? Plus I love how close knit the Chaotix are as a team. Like dang son, you live in that old dingy place with no work but you stick together? There's some COMMITMENT there! And that's why I love these guys. Which also means I love tormenting them. Which will happen in the next chapter. Leave a review if you liked it, I would really appreciate some top notch criticisms from some fellow fans of these guys! Bye until next time!